Stone Age Fertility Artifact

From Discovery News:

A Stone Age-era artifact carved with multiple zigzags and what is likely a woman with spread legs suggests that fertility rituals may have been important to early Europeans, according to new research.

The object, which will be documented in the March issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science, is made out of a large elk antler and has been radiocarbon dated to about 10,900 years ago.

"The ornament is composed of groups of zigzag lines and a human representation, probably a woman with spread legs with a short zigzag nearby," lead author Tomasz Płonka told Discovery News. "The woman may be nude, but the geometrical style of representation does not allow us to answer (this question)."

The researchers aren't yet certain if the images on the carved antler are associated with Venus figurines, statuettes of women with exaggerated sexual features that date to as early as 35,000 years ago. Some Venus figurines have been excavated in Poland not too far from the Swidwin site.

Oral Contraception: a History of Social Reform, Empowerment and Health Concern

The article below was written by Matt Phillips and submitted to Women of History.  Issues concerning fertility and childbirth are important to all women, and the advances made over time should not be taken lightly.

Many thanks to Matt for his most welcome contribution.

Despite its relatively short history, oral contraception has had a tremendous impact on numerous aspects of modern society. However, its role in recent movements that won women legal equality stands out more than any other outcome. Nevertheless, this modern method of birth control, which is the most popular today, represents just one in a long succession of contraceptive devices that enable women to enjoy physical intimacy while decreasing the risk of pregnancy.

One of the most striking aspects of birth control is the history it has. Although many tend to view contraception as a fairly modern development, historians point out that individuals attempted to control family size in Mesopotamian and early Egyptian times. However, these methods were generally lacking in safety and sophistication, involving infanticide or the use of questionable barrier mixtures that sometimes contained materials like honey or animal excrement. Prolonged lactation and spermicidal chemicals were also used in ancient societies to prevent pregnancy. The ancient Chinese even produced a chemical women could ingest to produce sterility.

However, historically recent developments show social motives behind the use of contraception, while past fertility control generally centered on practical issues like the economic strain another child would bring. During the 19th century in the United States, women’s medical care was passed from midwives to male doctors. At that time, because of the social, economic and religious climate, few male doctors were willing to sanction the use of contraception and give them that power, an illustration of the general opinion regarding women’s rights at the time. Although the use of condoms gained acceptance and popularity after WWI, it wasn’t until February 15, 1961 that women gained full control over their fertility, with the FDA approval of Enovid, an oral contraceptive, for public contraceptive use.

The popularity of this drug increased rapidly after its introduction as it gave women more control of their fertility than they ever had before. Its introduction also coincided with the great social restructuring that was occurring at the time. Many women looked to these pills as a way to advance both socially and economically. Indeed, after the introduction of oral contraception, female college attendance and graduation saw a sharp rise. Its use signified more than just a fertility tool, but a complete reevaluation of women’s role in the workplace as well. Now that women could delay pregnancy indefinitely, long-term career goals became the focus of individuals that might have previously settled for early marriage and economic reliance on their spouse.

However, social and economic changes were not the only trends seen with these drugs. Since their introduction, cancer cases among U.S. women have also seen a jump. Although doctors now generally agree today’s forms of oral contraception, which contain far lower hormone doses, do not significantly increase the risk of cancer, other serious side effects have been seen. Specifically, the hormonal ingredient, estrogen, acts as a blood coagulator, leading to an increased risk of cardiovascular complications, among other dangers. One recent Yaz lawsuit even involves a woman who developed blood clots in her lungs after correctly using this particular product.

While modern oral contraception has empowered women with independent, discretionary control over their fertility, it has also been blamed for several direct health impacts, as well as indirect social consequences. Some opponents of the medication fear that this drug has led to a rise in sexually transmitted disease spread by encouraging physical intimacy and removing the fear of pregnancy. Despite the social strides women have made since using this contraceptive tool, critics continue to voice their opposition loudly, much like past opponents of female fertility control who denounced these practices on moral, economic and social grounds.

Women and Fertility

From the Telegraph:

Women living near an ancient fertility symbol produce the most babies in the country according to new figures.

The naked 180ft Cerne Abbas Giant though to be thousands of years old - is carved out in the chalk downs in North Dorset.

Women living near him have three children in their lifetime which is a national record.

They are the highest for anywhere in the country for more than 40 years.

Standing erect for locals to see the giant could be having an inspirational effect on couples in the area say locals.

And from Times of India:

A woman, as everyone knows, usually gives birth to a baby after nine months of pregnancy, but in Bihar 298 women claim to have delivered two to five children in a span of 60 days - at least that's what records of incentives amount given to new mothers under a government scheme show.

A woman gets around Rs.1,000 when she gives birth under the government's Janani Suraksha Yojana but a total of Rs.6.6 lakh was paid as incentive to 298 women who claimed to have delivered two to five children within 60 days under the scheme, says a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that exposes corruption in the state.

UK: Eggs On Ice

From Fox News:

Young British women are considering freezing their eggs to preserve their fertility until they are well established in their careers, a new study suggested Monday.

A survey of 100 female medical students, with an average age of 21, revealed more than 85 percent would be prepared to delay starting a family for career reasons, and that 69 percent would be happy to store eggs on ice as insurance against later infertility.

The findings, from researchers at the University of Leeds, in northern England, suggested that there is growing demand for egg freezing among young women, particularly those who have decided on a career such as medicine that will involve many years of training.

Srilatha Gorthi, who presented the study to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Rome said: “These results are not surprising, as professional women have long struggled under the double yoke of social pressure to become educated and financially self-sufficient, and the competing biological imperative to reproduce while still young.

Fertility Treatment for Poor

The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology met in Barcelona this week.

On the discussion table was the issue of infertility in developing countries. A proposal was put together with the aim of introducing inexpensive IVF treatments for women - beginning in Africa where it is claimed more than 30percent of women are infertile.

This IVF treatment could cost around $200.00 which is considerably less than the $10,000.00 being paid for the same treatment in developed nations.

From the Guardian:
"A small number of women already have been treated in Khartoum, Sudan, and other projects are expected to start soon in South Africa and Tanzania. Sembuya Rita, an infertility activist from Uganda, said it was essential for public health officials to address the issue."


From Fox News:
"Despite dozens of other health priorities — from AIDS to pneumonia to malaria — experts said it was worthwhile to introduce a cheap version of IVF. In Africa, where infertility is more common than in the West, women often suffer the problem after complications from unsafe deliveries, abortions or infections.

Experts said that even if millions of women were treated with low-cost IVF, it would only result in a one to two percent boost in the overall population. But with limited funds for public health, officials admitted it would be a tough sell."


From MSNBC:
"Oluwole Akande, an emeritus professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria acknowledged the price of the procedure would still be available only to Africa's upper and middle classes. He said that in many parts of Africa women who are unable to have children become social outcasts, are labelled as witches, and in extreme cases, are even driven to suicide."


From the Star Tribune:
"Millions of dollars go into family planning projects and condom distribution to prevent pregnancies in Africa, but experts said that more than 30 percent of women on the continent are unable to have children. An estimated 80 million people in developing countries are infertile worldwide."


From Yahoo News:
"The goal is creating a system of centers developed around existing hospitals and clinics that would provide more options for infertile women in poor countries. The key to an affordable program is not attempting to treat every type of infertility but rather targeting those that have the best chance of success, such as women with tubal damage as a result of infection, the researchers said. They also acknowledged that until governments and international aid organizations step in with funding, even a $200 per cycle price tag will prove prohibitive for many."


However, due to the inexpensive nature of the treatment, the success rate may also be lower.

And I am sure that there are many who would disagree with this program on the basis of the world already being over-populated. Many would also argue why this program could not be used in developed countries for childless couples who cannot afford the huge price-tag that comes with IVF treatments.